SOITHERN CULTIVATOR. 
51 
climate and soil suit it. Tiie crop of an acte of Hop.s in j 
Kent, in Enjjland, varies, in a good year, from S1500 to 
S'2501) to the acre. It is there an expensive crop, from the 
great value of the land and from the poles necessary in its 
cultivation. Our lands are cheap and poles cost but little. 
Why may not this plant be cultivated with us, and to 
greater advantages than in England! 
Soda, which is now so extensive an article of commerce 
is made from sal soda. This plant is cultivated in Spain 
and on lands which can be overflowed by salt water, its 
cultivation is very profitable. Are there not thousands 
of acres of salt marsh on our coast now totally useless, 
which might be made valuable by the introduction of this 
plant 1 
Might, not the connection of a Market Fair give increas- 
ed interest to our annual exhibifion and be of value to the | 
State! There is nothing of this kind in this country 
either North or South. I have wondered at this, as these 
market Fairs are so nurneious and of so great utility 
abroad. Sales are made by the sample of Grain, &c. j 
These are always for cash. Bankers are present to make 
the necessary advances. To prevent fraud, the sample is 
divided between bu^’er and seller. Formerly we had no 
crop but cotton, which bore a fixed price. Inconsequence 
of our Railroad system, all other articles of farm produce 
have their market value. If it were understood that a 
large number of farmers would be present at the Fair, 
with samples of their cotton, grain, &c., buyers would be 
attracted and via: verso.. If this be practicable, the con- 
course of persons at our Fair would be very great. And 
is it not practicable! I leave the question to be decided 
by persons more capable than myself 
Would it not be possible for the Society to establish an 
Agricultural School and Mode! Farm, and to place the Fair 
ground permanently tipon the farm. Permanence is of 
great importance. It is, of course, impossible for the So- 
ciety to make valuable improvements upon a spot of mere- 
ly temporary interest. 
If the Fair ground was connected wnth the school, an 
Economic Museum could be there established. Presents 
of Agricultural, Mineral, Commercial and Mechanical im- 
portance would be made to ii. It would be to the interest 
of inventors and venders to send samples of their wares. 
There is not a similar institution in Europe that would , 
not interchange the products of the several countries. A 
valuable collection could thus be made up at small cost. 
With this Museum, a Library composed of Agricultural 
and other cognate works could be established, and some 
one connected with the school might be the curator of the 
whole. 
In regard to an Agricultural School, it is proper to dis- 
criminate between such an one and the Manual Labor 
schools, formerly existing in Georgia. The writer was 
deeply interested in the first Manual Labor school estab- 
lished in the State. That, with all others like it, were 
failures. The reason was obvious. The boys going to 
the school were, for the most part, sons of wealthy farm- 
ers or planters, and it was impossible to keep them in or- 
der. The Agricultural was wholly subordinate to other 
pursuits. An Agricultural school should be composed of 
the sens of the poor, who have been accustomed to labor; 
and the amount of labordone should notonly cover expens- 
es, but leave a profit. This is done elsewhere and may be 
done in Georgia. A company of 100 persons who would 
subscribe lOU dollars each could make a successful begin- 
ning. Should tJie suggestion of such a school be favorably 
received, the details of most of the prominent Agricultural 
schools in .Europe can be furni-htd, and would c|]^erfully 
be made public Tliese alone would tully occupyva.‘hew3^_ 
paper article. We sadly want a class of eduegi^ .Over- 
seers, such as could be furnished by a proper A|r^<;dltufal 
school. • '■ 
The State could be made to aid such a school by pl'o- 
per eft'ort. It has aided our Academic school at Athens. 
!t has more recently aided the military school at Marietta. 
May the day be far distant when the Georgia Legislature 
shall prefer the sword to the plowshare. The appropria- 
tion to the Military School was right. But it is a safe 
precedent for a demand for aid to an Agricultural school. 
The noble devotion of Dr. Terrell to the Slate University 
wiil answer a most valuable end to the class of students 
who can alTord a collegiate education. But we need an 
institution for another class who .cannot be brought into 
association with the students of college without injury to 
both. 
There are other suggestions which I had designed to 
offer ; but iliis paper is already too long. It may be an 
intrusion to call the attention of gentlemen so well skilled 
in Agricultural affairs as our Execiive Committee to them. 
But whether valuable or worthless, they are at least the 
offering to the Agriculture of the State of a true-hearted 
Georgian'. 
Jojiuary, 1857. 
SEEDS. 
We have been requested to put upon record a fact in 
relation to this subject, which may serve as a caution of 
some utility to a good many. A farmer soaked his seed 
corn this spring, as he usually does, some of it 12, and 
some of 24, 30, 35, and up to 48 hours. Towards the 
last days of his planting, the land became very dry, and 
as there was no rain for upwards of two weeks afterwards, 
there were many parts of the ground so dry that seeds 
could not possibly germinate. The consequence was, 
that much or perhaps all of the seed corn which had been 
steeped long enough to cause it to sprout, could not pro- 
cure in the earth moisture enough to have the process, 
already commenced continued. The sprouts or swelled 
germ finding no moisture, rotted or died. Had as severe 
a drought as actually did occur, been anticipated, our in- 
formant would probably have preferred to plant unsoaked 
seed in the dryest portions of Ms field. He thinks that 
when there is considerable probability of a “dry spell” 
after planting, it would be safer to plant seed which had 
not been steeped at all, than to put any seed into dry 
ground — already dry — which has become soft or com- 
menced to swell or germinate. — Exchange. 
Marriages. — “Marriage is the mother of the world; it 
preserves nations, fills cities and churches, and peoples 
Heaven. An unmarried man, like a fly in the heart of a 
sweet apple, dwells in perpetual sweetneess, but dwells 
alone and cannot enjoy it for want of company.” Mar- 
riage, like the industrious bee, bulds houses, forms socie- 
ties and republics, sends out colonies and blesses the 
world. It is one of the good institutions which God at 
first gave us. Even in Eden it was not good for man to 
be alone. Man was too complete, as at first made, to be 
entirely happy. He was independent without having any 
j depending upon him. He v/as not to be happy without 
j having some other to care for ; so the Lord God took from 
i him one of his own ribs, and out of it made him a wife. 
Thus it needs a wife to restore man to completeness as 
such, and more especially to complete his happiness, by 
having a wife to depend on him. 
Georgia Wine, — We are indebted to Col. Sullivan of 
Americas, for a bottle of excellent wine, manufactured by 
himself from the dark variety of the Scuppernong Grape. 
Its llfivor and body is good, its complexion attractive, and 
its effects most salutary. Col. S. thiuks this variety of 
grape on many accounts superior to most others. It is 
a free and sure bearer, ripens late, and is suited to al- 
most any location, damp or dry. The grape culture in the 
South is likely to receive increased attention . — Journal 
Messenger. 
